Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 6, March 17, 2025
(a) All poultry
distributors shall develop and adhere to an NJDA approved biosecurity protocol.
All biosecurity protocols submitted pursuant to
N.J.A.C.
2:9-2.2(b)7, at a minimum,
must include the following:
1. Cleaning,
sanitation and disinfection to prevent transmission of Avian Influenza virus
from one premises to another;
2.
All non-disposable footwear shall be disinfected before entering and after
leaving any premises containing poultry;
3. All disposable footwear shall be discarded
after each visit to any premises containing poultry;
4. All poultry distributor personnel shall
wash their hands prior to and between each entry of a premises containing live
poultry;
5. Cabs (interior and
exterior), tires and bodies of all conveyances shall be cleaned and disinfected
to prevent transmission of the Avian Influenza virus from one premises to
another; and
6. Coops, crates,
flats, cages or other conveyances and other equipment shall be cleaned and
disinfected prior to reuse when moving live poultry, using NJDA-approved
washing equipment and protocols.
(b) All poultry distributors shall maintain
records of all poultry transfers, including: poultry invoices, poultry
inspection certificates, and certificates of veterinary inspection for a period
of 12 months at the business premises. These records must be presented upon
demand to an authorized agent of the New Jersey Department of
Agriculture.
(c) All poultry
distributors shall maintain a logbook in each vehicle used to transport live
poultry certifying that they have complied with the biosecurity protocols in
(a)5 and 6 above.
1. All completed logbooks
must be maintained at the business premises for a period of 12 months and must
be presented upon demand to an authorized agent of the New Jersey Department of
Agriculture.
2. Each logbook shall
contain the following information for each entry:
i. The date, time and location that each act
of cleaning and disinfection required by (a)5 and 6 above was
performed;
ii. The following
statement: "I certify under penalty of law that the information provided in
this entry is true, accurate and complete. I am aware that there are
significant civil penalties for submitting false, inaccurate or incomplete
information and significant criminal penalties, including fines and/or
imprisonment for submitting false, inaccurate or incomplete information or
information which I do not believe to be true."; and
iii. The printed name and signature of the
agent who performed the act of cleaning and disinfection on behalf of the
poultry distributor.
3.
The NJDA will accept logbooks from other states that meet the requirements of
(c)1, 2i and 2iii above.
4. Each
logbook must be reviewed quarterly by the poultry distributor to ensure
compliance with the NJDA approved biosecurity plan. Proof of this quarterly
review must be shown by a certification containing the following information
for each quarter:
i. The following statement:
"I certify under penalty of law that I have reviewed the entries in the logbook
for this quarter and that the actions of the above named agent(s) are in
compliance with my NJDA approved biosecurity plan. I am aware that there are
significant civil penalties for submitting false, inaccurate or incomplete
information and significant criminal penalties, including fines and/or
imprisonment for submitting false, inaccurate or incomplete information or
information which I do not believe to be true.";
ii. The printed name and signature of the
poultry distributor if the poultry distributor is an individual, or the
signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the poultry distributor if
the poultry distributor is a business entity; and
iii. The date in which the logbook was signed
and the time period the review covers.
(d) Incidents involving false swearing or
false reporting in the documents required by this subchapter may be referred by
the Department for prosecution including, but not limited to, those authorized
pursuant to
N.J.S.A.
2C:28-3.
